“It is awful to enslave the Indians!” cried Jean. “The Government ought to stop it!”
“Slavery among the Indians is no worse than among the negroes,” said her host, with an admiring smile.
“Women are not responsible for slavery, sir,” said Jean.
“But women are very ardent defenders of slavery wherever it exists, my daughter,” added her father, gravely.
“That’s because they themselves are servants without wages, daddie. Mother used to say that the worst slave-drivers she ever saw down South were the overseers who were slaves themselves. Women are not angels, but they are doing the best they can without political power.”
“I don’t know but you are right, Miss Ranger. Women ought to have power. My sovereign is a woman, and we have no slavery in England.”
“Thank you for giving me the best of the argument, Mr. Ashleigh. But I see that daddie is impatient, and we must be going.”
“I hope you’ll pardon me for referring to a proposition you made last evening, although you may have changed your mind, Miss Ranger. You proposed writing to my mother. Will you do it?”
“Ask daddie.”